The race is on to persuade Northern Ireland’s expats to return home for good at a number of special events over the holiday period.

Recruitment company Abacus and government-backed body Northern Irish Connections is hosting 150 members of the Northern Ireland diaspora at a reception at The Ivory Restaurant in Belfast on December 29.

They will also run online seminars to let those keen to return home to explore opportunities in the accountancy, finance, IT, analytics and legal sectors here.

Northern Irish Connections CEO Andrew Cowan said there are 10 million first and second-generation diaspora who left home to pursue their careers around the world.

“There are so many talented people out there with a link to Northern Ireland and attracting some of them back home could be a game-changer for Northern Ireland’s economy,” he said.

“The arrival of new industries and new investors in Belfast means there is a growing demand for skills that will drive our economy forward.”

And Justin Rush, Business Director of Abacus Professional Recruitment, said he was confident expats would find rich pickings in Northern Ireland, as well as a number of other positives.

He added: “For anyone who has lived away, the attraction of life in Belfast is obvious. The city offers excellent value in the housing market, low commuting times, great schools and affordable childcare. It is also ranked as one of the top 10 UK cities to live and work in.

"Through these events we hope to remind some of our homegrown talent of these advantages while they’re home for the holidays.”